Texas is known for a lot of things — political participation is not one of them.
“Due in part to our size and in part to our growth, Texas continues to fall behind the bulk of the nation when it comes to measures such as voting and civic involvement.”- Susan Nold, as quoted by UT News (2018)
Texas ranks near the bottom of the list when it comes to various pathways of civic engagement, including voter registration, voting, donating, volunteering, contacting elected officials, and discussing government and politics. For a graphical summary of the 2018 Texas Civic Health Index report, which includes facts regarding where Texas ranks on civic engagement compared to other states, click here.
Civic engagement is impacted by many factors, including age, wealth, education, and how strongly a person feels about an issue. Generally speaking, older, more educated citizens are those most likely to engage with the government. We see this in Texas: older individuals are those most likely to vote, and college graduates are far more likely to participate in group activities, like volunteering for nonprofit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. This has serious implications; after all, the government is most responsive to the needs and desires of those who engage.
Increasing Civic Engagement in the Lone Star State
Several recommendations to improve civic engagement in Texas were discussed within the 2018 Texas Civic Health Index report. These recommendations include:
- Reimagining civics education to better prepare the next generation for the responsibility of self-governance
- Explore opportunities for institutional, systems-level changes by tapping into one of the advantages of federalism and examining what laws other states have regulating political participation to see if we can identify “best practices”
- Developing civic leaders by creating educational opportunities that help develop skills associated with civic leadership, service, and running for elected office
- Encouraging innovation to reduce obstacles and create new opportunities for civic engagement
- Supporting organizations that invest in Texas, such as neighborhood associations and nonprofits